[TIPHAIGNE DE LA ROCHE (Charles-François)].

Lot 300
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1000 - 1500 EUR
[TIPHAIGNE DE LA ROCHE (Charles-François)].
Amilec, or the seed of men. S.l., 1753. In-12, calf porphyry, spine decorated, red title coin, red edges (contemporary binding). Versins, p. 888. Original edition of this philosophical fiction by Tiphaigne de La Roche, a Norman author who can be compared to a Cyrano de Bergerac and a Jules Verne. In this work, the author stages Amilec, a genetic genius who presides over the multiplication of the human species in the universe from human seeds: I left Venus about seven or eight thousand years ago, & I arrived on Earth where I continued to sow & reap. Now I am about to leave for Mars [...]. Some five hundred years ago, I sent Genius Zamar to your Moon with a good supply of human seed. I do not doubt that today the multiplication of the Species is on a good footing there; I am surprised not to receive any news of it, I am waiting for it from day to day (pp. 26-27). One also finds, from p. 22, the curious hypothesis of the author on the formation of the Universe, which is not so far from the modern big-bang theory. One linked to the continuation: PANCKOUCKE (Charles-Joseph). Of man, and of the reproduction [sic] of different individuals. Paris, 1761. Original edition of this talk and defence of Buffon's generation theory. Interesting combination of 2 18th century books on generation.
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